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A New Heuristic in Mutual Sequential Mate Search

Author

Listed:
  • Saglam, Ismail
Abstract
In this paper, we propose a new heuristic to be used as a mate search strategy in the Todd and Miller's (1999) human mate choice model. This heuristic, which we call Take the Weighted Average with the Next Desiring Date, is a plausible search rule in terms of informational assumptions, while in terms of mating likelihood it is almost as good as the most successful, yet also unrealistic, heuristic of Todd and Miller (1999), namely the Mate Value-5 rule, which assumes that agents in the mating population completely know their own mate values before interacting with any date. The success of our heuristic stems from its extreme power to lead an average agent in the mating population to always underestimate his/her own mate value during the adolescence (learning) phase of the mating process. However, this humble heuristic does not perform well in terms of marital stability. We find that the mean within-pair difference is always higher under our heuristic (possibly due to high estimation errors made in the learning phase) than under any heuristic of Todd and Miller (1999). It seems that becoming ready to pair up with agents whose mate values are well below one's own mate value pays off well in the mating phase but also incurs an increased risk of marital dissolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Saglam, Ismail, 2017. "A New Heuristic in Mutual Sequential Mate Search," MPRA Paper 79448, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:79448
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/79448/1/MPRA_paper_79448.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ismail Saglam, 2014. "Simple Heuristics as Equilibrium Strategies in Mutual Sequential Mate Search," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12.
    2. Naoki Shiba, 2013. "Analysis of Asymmetric Two-Sided Matching: Agent-Based Simulation with Theorem-Proof Approach," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 16(3), pages 1-11.
    3. Edmund J. Collins & John M. McNamara & David M. Ramsey, 2006. "Learning rules for optimal selection in a varying environment: mate choice revisited," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 17(5), pages 799-809, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Saglam, Ismail, 2017. "Simulating the Mutual Sequential Mate Search Model under Non-homogenous Preferences," MPRA Paper 80522, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Ismail Saglam, 2021. "The Success of the Deferred Acceptance Algorithm Under Heterogenous Preferences with Endogenous Aspirations," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 57(2), pages 577-591, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mate Choice; Mate Search; Simple Heuristics; Agent-Based Simulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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